ESU, Pa. state university faculty: No strike this semester

Tuesday

Nov 27, 2012 at 4:26 PMNov 27, 2012 at 5:29 PM

Students at Pennsylvania's state-run colleges, including East Stroudsburg University, will be spared a faculty strike — at least for this semester. In an open letter to students at the state's 14 universities, the head of the faculty union allayed fears of an imminent walkout.

CHRISTINA TATU

Students at Pennsylvania's state-run colleges, including East Stroudsburg University, will be spared a faculty strike — at least for this semester.

In an open letter to students at the state's 14 universities, the head of the faculty union allayed fears of an imminent walkout.

“Faculty know you are worried that your professors will go on strike,” wrote Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties President Steven Hicks. “We know you are concerned about the impact a strike would have on your classes, your finals and your tuition dollars. After thoughtful deliberation and consideration about how a strike at this time would affect our students, we have decided to postpone consideration of a strike for the rest of the semester.”

The last day of classes for students is Dec. 7, with the semester officially ending Dec. 14.

Earlier this month, union faculty at the 14 schools voted to give their leadership the authority to call a strike.

Faculty and coaches have been working without a contract since June 2011, the longest they've gone without one, said Ken Mash, vice president of the state union and professor at East Stroudsburg University.

“We think (having a strike now) would be detrimental to students in a way that would cause great concern on their parts, and understandably so because this is finals time,” Mash said.

Union and Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education officials will continue negotiations Dec. 11 and 19.

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